The high praise keeps coming for former Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs, and it doesn’t appear to be stopping any time soon. Drafted 13th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, Wirfs hit the ground running and has already established himself as one of the top offensive linemen in the league.
In Trevor Sikkema’s ranking of the top 25 players under 25 entering the 2022 NFL season for Pro Football Focus, Wirfs came in fourth.
Wirfs hasn’t just been one of the best young offensive linemen over the past two seasons, he’s been one of the best regardless of age. Since being thrown into a starting spot right off the bat in his rookie campaign, Wrifs has established himself as one of the best right tackles in the game — and also has a Super Bowl ring on his finger already. At just 23 years old, this could be the start of a very special career. – Sikkema, Pro Football Focus.
Wirfs is just behind San Francisco 49ers star edge rusher Nick Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, and Indianapolis Colts league-leading rusher Jonathan Taylor. Some notable names the third-year tackle is ahead of include superstar wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jamarr Chase, as well as Defensive Rookie of the Year Micah Parsons.
As Sikkema alluded to, Wirfs’ career has already started off special. Despite being seen as a bit more of a project than some others in his loaded class, Wirfs immediately made an impact and was named to the Pro Football Writers of America NFL All-Rookie team. He started all four playoff games in the Bucs’ Super Bowl run.
Just two years in, Wirfs already has a Pro Bowl and a first-team All-Pro under his belt, an accomplishment a majority of tackles in the league won’t see in their career. All the while, he is just 23 and should continue to grow. Wirfs is just the most recent example of the Iowa O-line factory.
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